The gift of Giving

Just thought I would mention that when choosing presents for your friends and family this Christmas you may want to avoid the busy shopping centres and buy online from an organisation who will put the money from your purchase to a good cause. Oxfam have an online shop selling lots of great stuff you can buy for yourselves and others, or they even have the option of buying gifts for impoverished communities (such as a town well) if you want to buy a really amazing present. the anti-people trafficking website notforsale also have an online store selling some really cool stuff, or you could simply get onto google and browse for free trade websites or eco-friendly products. As consumers every time we buy something we are supporting the industry we purchase from. Why not put your money to a good cause next time you are buying a gift, not only will you be doing something positive for the world but you will also find some really unique gifts that shopping malls don't have. If we really want to change the world the best way to do it is not by trying to 'develop' others, but by changing our own behavior so that it supports the things we believe in. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy new year.

Some More On People Trafficking

After recently watching the film THE JAMMED my interest in human trafficking has been growing. Illegal trafficking of humans is a horrific and huge global industry that exists in every continent and most countries. It is a phenomenon that is absolutely unnacteptable and must be put to an end. Below is a list of organisations that are working to stop human trafficking and some statistics on the problem taken from www.stopthetraffik.org. If you are looking for a just cause to become involved in, there is none more crucial then putting an end to people trafficking.

At least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these 2.4 million are as a result of human trafficking. A global alliance against forced labor, International Labour Organisation, 2005

600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors. US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2005

Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for organised crime, exceeded only by arms and drugs trafficking. UN office on drugs and crime

It is the fastest growing form of international crime, already generating 7 billion dollars per year in criminal proceeds. There are even reports that some trafficking groups are switching their cargo from drugs to human beings, in a search of high profits at lower risk. UN office on drugs and crime

For more information see www.stopthetraffik.org, www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.catwinternational.org, www.humantrafficking.org, www.ahavakids.org, www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Human_trafficking.aspx, www.humantraffickingsearch.net/, www.humantrafficking.com, http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/

It's been a big year for Australian music, and this year's all aussie homebake music festival had a line-up that just couldn't be missed. Arriving around three, we started the day with Blue King Brown who, as always, put on an awesome show and had the day off to a good start. Next we caught a bit of The Beautiful Girls, before heading over to chill out for a while and watch Angus and Julia Stone. Then it was back to the big top for a sweaty Midnight Juggernauts session and we followed this up with the days best performance by Goyte. After Gotye we headed to Architecture in Helsinki and I had to call it a day as a day of drinking doubles in the sun had started to take its toll on me and a severe headache had me aiming for bed. All in all, the day was a nice warm up session for January's BIG DAY OUT..